SALT LAKE CITY – A new variant of COVID-19, originally from the United Kingdom, has been detected in Utah, health officials announced on Friday.
The variant, also known as B.1.1.7 COVID-19, was detected in a man from Salt Lake County who tested positive last month and was between 25 and 44 years old, according to a statement from the Department of Health. Utah health. . The man had no known travel history outside of Utah and had only mild symptoms, the statement said.
“I fully anticipate that we will find this strain in Utah. We know that this strain is more transmissible than previous COVID-19 variants, and our hospitals continue to operate at or above capacity. So now more than ever, Utah residents need to wear masks, practice physical distance, and avoid big dates. Dr. Angela Dunn, the state epidemiologist for the health department, said in a statement.
Salt Lake County health officials conducted a routine investigation into the case, including tracking contacts, for the case. The Utah Public Health Laboratory discovered the variant by genetically sequencing COVID-19 samples, the press release said.
The British version is thought to spread faster and easier than other COVID-19 mutations, but there is no evidence that it is more lethal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was first detected in the United States, in Colorado.
COVID-19 vaccines that are currently approved for use are also considered to be effective against the British variant of the virus, the health department said.
Dunn is expected to provide more information on the discovery of the variant on Friday afternoon.
This story will be updated.
Jacob Klopfenstein